There are tons of online gambling sites in Canada that pop up on a regular basis. Here you’ll learn what makes a good gambling site and how Canadian law affects these sites, both on a provincial and national level. Gambling sites are an umbrella term for all types of gambling sites, the most common of which are casino, betting, and bingo sites. Whether you’re new to gambling sites or are just curious about online gambling in general, keep reading to find out how we find the best gambling sites in Canada across a variety of categories.
In recent years, Canadian players have enjoyed a boom in the online gambling industry, where thousands of gambling sites exist at every Canadian’s disposal. As the online gambling market has exploded, there are some key elements that customers should take an extra step to check. As you might know by now, we follow strict criteria when reviewing and listing Canadian gambling sites, all so that you can easily find the best gambling sites in Canada.
To be able to enjoy a seamless and fun experience, our experts at Casivo have completed the research and compiled a list of key factors we look for in Canadian gambling sites. The gambling sites that score best on these key factors are the best gambling sites in Canada. On our lists, you will only find the gambling sites that meet all of the mentioned criteria and the latest information regarding the Canadian regulators and gambling authorities within each province.
Key Factors for The Best Gambling Sites
- Player reputation
- User friendliness
- Licensing and encryption
- Game supply and variety
- Compatible with all devices
- Bonus and promotion offers
- Customer service and availability
- Deposit and withdrawal speed and cost
There are a few different types of online gambling sites in Canada. Before you head out looking for a new gambling site to play at you have to figure out what type of gambling site you are interested in. The most common types of gambling sites are casino or betting sites, but there are many other factors to consider. Are you going to play casino games only, or will you be looking for other categories? Will you be betting on a game or two in any upcoming sports events while having the freedom to try out an online casino at the same time? Then maybe you will want a hybrid site that offers both betting and casino games. Some of you might even want an all-round gambling site that has the whole range, including lotteries, scratch cards, and bingo.
Common Gambling sites in Canada
- Hybrid Gambling Sites
- Casino Sites
- Betting Sites
- Bingo Sites
- Online Lotteries
- Sites with Online Scratch Cards
There are a few easy tips we can give you when checking out how good a certain gambling site is. The four following tips are the most important factors that will get you a long way when reviewing a gambling site yourself. Check out our four tips below to improve your chances of winning at real money online gambling sites.
When playing with real money, trustworthiness is a big key. The first thing to do is check if it’s connected to the provincial gambling commission. A second important step is to check if the site has an SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer), which should show in the URL, which contains “https” instead of “http,” the “s” standing for secure encryption. The method for signing up and logging into your account also plays a part here, along with how your data is being stored by the gambling site.
Reading through the fine print is always key to knowing what you’re getting out of every bonus and promotion that the site offers. This is one of those steps that will become natural to you once you sign up for more than one gambling site. The terms and conditions will include most of the things that are important to know before joining the gambling site as a member, such as: the minimum deposit, maximum payouts and time limits, bonus game limitations, and more.
Another clear tip is to always check the banking options. The gambling site should offer several payment options. But the most important thing is that you find a payment method that you feel comfortable using or that offers you fast payouts. Be aware if the gambling site in question has any payment limits or fees for certain withdrawal amounts. Bank cards, e-wallets, Apple Pay, digital payment methods, bank- and direct transfers are common payment methods offered by casinos.
In Canada, there are some great offshore casinos for you to try if you’re not in a province where there isn’t a license in place. If you really want to find the best online gambling site, you cannot only stick to Canadian gambling sites. If you do that, you are limiting yourself, and you might miss out on finding the best gambling site for you. Therefore, we recommend that you try out well-established international gambling sites as well as Canadian sites. Just make sure you are playing at a licensed and regulated gambling site to be able to enjoy it as much as possible.
Signing up to a gambling site in Canada has never been easier. Follow this step-by-step guide to get started:
All brands in our lists have been tried and tested throughout. Click on “Visit Site” to get to the sign up page.
Add your personal details and make a deposit with your preferred payment method.
Hundreds of slots and sporting events are available to play in the lobby.
It’s that easy. Be sure to turn on any notifications or emails to stay up-to-date with the promotions and offerings for existing players.
Gambling in Canada is regulated by law. Gambling online with real money is legal when it’s managed by a provincial government. That means each province is mostly free to determine its own gambling laws. Today, Canadian gambling laws differ between provinces. It’s important to have some knowledge of the laws for online gambling in Canada before playing. We have done this part for you simply by only listing legal gambling sites in Canada.
The former law states that all forms of gambling are generally prohibited by Canada’s federal criminal code, with an exception on the provincial level that lets governments “conduct and manage” gambling within their own province. Most provinces had their own restrictions, especially on horse-racing and betting on horse-racing, which were separate laws within the code. Another major restriction was that no provincial government could take bets on single games, which restricted the offering to parlay betting.
These former laws and restrictions were finally lifted in 2021, which let most provinces establish separate entities within gambling (largely referred to as “lottery corporations”) and therefore make their own rules in gambling, both online and physically. On a provincial level, there are certain rules that mainly apply for online gambling sites that are physically run within each province, with offshore gambling sites not being restricted at all, which lets you play on gambling sites that are placed in other countries.
As the regulations are constantly changing, both in Canada and within every province, we have listed the current lottery corporations on a provincial level that you should know about. We keep an eye on any changes regarding the gambling laws in Canada and will update this page together with the gambling sites we offer, within the limits of the laws and regulations.
It is critical to understand that we do not provide or claim to provide legal advice. For any questions about provincial, country, or regional laws, we encourage you to seek professional help.
| PROVINCE | REGULATED BY |
|---|---|
| Ontario | AGCO |
| Manitoba | LGCA |
| Saskatchewan | BCLC |
| Nova Scotia | The Alcohol, Gaming & Tobacco Branch of Service Nova Scotia |
| Quebec | Loto-Québec |
| British Columbia | BCACG |
| Alberta | AGLC |
| New Brunswick | NBLGC |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Consumer Affairs Division |
| Prince Edward Island | The Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission |
In a nutshell, yes. Both sports betting and online casinos are safe and legal in Canada. In comparison to the rest of Canada, Ontario has its own regulatory bodies, depending on your province. In our lists, you will only find gambling sites that are legal, established, and safe to play at.
According to our experts, the best gambling sites are the ones that offer a good welcome bonus without a high wager requirement, along with 24/7 live support, fast banking options, and a reliable site across all devices. The latter answer is, however, subjective, and it’s up to you as a player to decide based on your preferences.
Depending on province, most Canadian sites require you to be at least 19 years old before you can gamble. In Québec, Manitoba and Alberta, the legal age of gambling is 18. You can check this information online on the gambling authority website for your province.
A hybrid gambling site is a gambling site that offers more than just one type of gambling. For instance, a site that offers both betting and casino games is considered a hybrid gambling site.
Yes. Most online gambling sites offer bonuses for their players. mostly welcome bonuses. With that being said, some provinces regulate bonuses more than others, and sometimes we are not allowed to display the bonuses because of current marketing regulations in specific provinces.
